[SHAPE]

Today SHAPE Services starts beta-testing for IM+ for Skype v. 4.0

We invite you to take part in BETA round of new IM+ for Skype version.
We are adding the exciting feature:free voice communication within Wi-Fi zones.

In order to place the VoIP call please make sure to select proper call type at "Settings" - "General".
Then select the contact from your contact list or "Call" - "Call phone" from the menu.
VoIP functions of IM+ for Skype currently work in half-duplex mode.
Please press left convenient key to talk and release it to hear you interlocutor.
Note that Wi-Fi connection is required to place and receive VoIP calls.

Download the installation for your BlackBerry (works till 8th of December 2009) at

IM+ for Skype :: BlackBerry :: Products
or directly to your Blackberry on our WAP-site
wap.shapeservices.com/skype-beta

You may post your comment here or send them from IM+ for Skype selecting "Help" / "Feedback" from the menu.
When posting your comments in this thread, please specify your Blackberry model, Blackberry OS and wireless carrier.

As usual, active beta-testers will be awarded with license codes.

Waiting for your feedback!

[HaTaX]

Just got it installed and squared away my IT policy.. Didn't know that you'd need access to reset the security timer to get it to load up!

Other then that after I enabled that in my policy it loaded right up and let me login with my skype account.

I'll do some testing with it tomorrow and see how it goes, give some feedback here as to what I find with it. I did a call to the test account on skype and it seemed to work just fine, actually sounded really clear.

Never used your IM product as I've been a user of Instango for a while, but if the beta turns out well, maybe I'll consider switching.

[SHAPE]

Originally Posted by HaTaX

Just got it installed and squared away my IT policy.. Didn't know that you'd need access to reset the security timer to get it to load up!

Other then that after I enabled that in my policy it loaded right up and let me login with my skype account.

I'll do some testing with it tomorrow and see how it goes, give some feedback here as to what I find with it. I did a call to the test account on skype and it seemed to work just fine, actually sounded really clear.

Never used your IM product as I've been a user of Instango for a while, but if the beta turns out well, maybe I'll consider switching.

Please get the updated version 4.0.23 at

wap.shapeservices.com/skype-beta
or
IM+ for Skype :: BlackBerry :: Products

Please inform us about the results.

[ricpac]

Let me try this later today.

[brh986]

half duplex///?

[HaTaX]

Downloaded 4.0.23 and decided to check the security timer issue. When the application first prompted to change the settings, I set the security timer to deny to see what happened. It saved the permissions, then gave the message dialog that the permissions weren't set so the application could start as it did before. After I had clicked okay, it brought me to the menu and I was able to restart the application and it loaded just fine!

Looks like the requirement is gone, but you may want to change the string that is called if the data timer permission isn't allowed.

Also while it connected fine last night, I am now getting a can't connect to server error. In the connection settings I'm set to BIS-B and the wifi box is checked. I'll try again every so often to see if it's just a temporary thing.

[SHAPE]

Originally Posted by brh986

half duplex///?

Yes, IM+ for Skype works in half-duplex mode while making VoIP calls.

This is caused by hardware limitations of Blackberry devices.

That is why you would need to hold left convenience button pressed while talking.

[france4]

My phone is 8220 and OS is 4.6
I got "App Error" while transfering unzipped files and now stuck at "Reconnecting to Skype".
I'll try again later.


Actually, it turned out Skype password was not correct and I changed it with new one and now I got contact lists.
Thanks.

[ricpac]

Testing. Will post back. Thanks SHAPE!

[weath]

SHAPE, this is a great start, but I have a question reference the "BB hardware limitations" comment: Why is it that the 8300-series and 9700 on T-Mobile can use UMA over WiFi full duplex, but this is half-duplex? I used a T-Mob USA Curve in overseas travel to great effect (free calls will connected to wifi hotspot). Are the internal mechanisms that different?

[SHAPE]

Originally Posted by weath

SHAPE, this is a great start, but I have a question reference the "BB hardware limitations" comment: Why is it that the 8300-series and 9700 on T-Mobile can use UMA over WiFi full duplex, but this is half-duplex? I used a T-Mob USA Curve in overseas travel to great effect (free calls will connected to wifi hotspot). Are the internal mechanisms that different?

Blackberry does not allow 3rd parties to use microphone and speaker simultaneously. That is why we cannot send and receive voice at the same time for now.
Our developers are now looking for the ways to overcome this limitation.

[weath]

Brilliant! Thanks, RIM. And thanks for clearing that up as well, SHAPE. Hopefully you'll be able to sort it..

[Kurai Kitsune]

Testing. An excellent start, SHAPE. Will provide more feedback when I have more guinea pigs online.

[arabcamel]

I have a blackberry bold on AT&T.

Once I connect, the application seems to work great. I am going to try the wifi calling later tonight.

One issue I am having is that whenever I first open the application it never connects. It says it is connecting but never does until I click the back button on my blackberry and then click the menu button and sign in again.

[arabcamel]

Blackberry Bold, AT&T, OS 5.0.0.314

I got the VOIP wifi calling to work. I had both my AT&T network and Wifi turned on when I first connected to the application. Once I was connected and started to message a friend on skype, I turned off the AT&T network and left the wifi on only. I initiated a call and was able to hear him fine. he also heard me crystal clear when I held down the left button of coarse.

There was a 1-2 second delay on both ends, but that is expected with an internet call. I was very impressed how clear the sound was. I will definitely be using this very much as I travel to Canada and China quite a bit for work. I will have to tell all of my co-workers about this as well as they all travel internationally.

I do have on recommendation. I noticed that when I click the button to talk, it makes a tone on the receiving end and a similar tone when i let go of the button. I would like to be able to hear this tone myself. Sort of like a confirmation "now you can talk". does that make sense?

Other than that one recommendation, I didn't find any issues with it. Although, I will continue to play around with it for the next couple of days since I'm not terribly busy at work

[djadotte]

will it create problem with my actual Skype account already downloaded in my BB?

[jeffharris]

To be clear, you cannot make a VoIP call over 3G, correct?

If it is only via WiFi, if I can log on to a WiFi zone (especially internaitonally), I guess this app would have no benefit over UMA for voice calls.

[SHAPE]

Originally Posted by djadotte

will it create problem with my actual Skype account already downloaded in my BB?

If you already use IM+ for Skype on your device, beta version will install over the existing version.

Beta version includes all functionalities of IM+ for Skype 3.3.3.

If you use another Skype application, it should not interfere with IM+ for Skype.
However we advise you to log off from other Skype applications while using IM+ for Skype.

[SHAPE]

Originally Posted by jeffharris

To be clear, you cannot make a VoIP call over 3G, correct?

If it is only via WiFi, if I can log on to a WiFi zone (especially internaitonally), I guess this app would have no benefit over UMA for voice calls.

It is possible to make VoIP calls over 3G. However we decided to test VoIP functionalities over Wi-Fi for now.
Sound quality may be significantly worse over 3G.

We plan to add 3G/EDGE support in future.

[arabcamel]

Originally Posted by SHAPE

It is possible to make VoIP calls over 3G. However we decided to test VoIP functionalities over Wi-Fi for now.
Sound quality may be significantly worse over 3G.

We plan to add 3G/EDGE support in future.

This is a good question and good answer. You may be using the skype calls differently than me. My main purpose is to make free calls back to the U.S. when in different countries so I want it mainly for wifi. I do make occasional skype out calls though. The big deal of this program is the voip over wifi. that's what has me smiling all day long.

I just wish I had this when I was in China 2 weeks ago...